Algeria Bossing at the AFCON's!

Algeria has been phenomenal at the African Cup of Nations this summer, reaching the finals and out performing all the other countries in almost every aspect. Having an Expected Goals (xG) rate of 8.3 but still scoring 12 goals is no easy feat. On the other hand, they've conceded just 2 goals till now in the competition, even though their Expected Goals Against (xGA) rate was a staggering 5.3! It clearly shows their dominance in the tournament, BOSSING everyone by being a constant threat at the opponent goal while maintaining stability in the defensive third. Here's my analysis on Algeria at the AFCON's.


Offensive Organisation

Making optimum utilization of the new rule, Algerian players come inside the box to receive the ball from their goalkeeper during goalkicks. The 4 midfield players constantly keep switching, in-sync, to unsettle the opponent and create as many passing lines as possible to split the opponent and break their organisation. As soon as that is established, they initiate their attack with passes/crosses to teammates with open space, advantage of time and numerical parity/superiority in the outside corridors. The cross/pass comes in the box at a moment when the opponent's body orientation is opposite to goal, which makes it difficult for them to defend.


Defensive Transition

Player closest to the ball puts pressure on the ball carrier, irrespective of his positioning. In that moment, other players close down passing options so that there's not much choice for the opponent and the ball carrier can be trapped. In this case, the pressure is from behind the opponent, while the other players get closer to supporting opponents. In the defensive third, Algeria still maintains close proximity to their opponents so as so not give many options to the opponent. This makes them mentally overworked emotionally aggressive to try and dribble or shoot from distance.


Defensive Organisation

Algeria has a tendency to not put pressure on the opponent defensive line, so as to give them options to get in the middle third where they have more players, less space and greater chance to win the ball. The midfielders will try to be in a man-marking position, which might prove to be fatal for them at some point just like in the analysis, but it has worked for them most of the time. They always try to maintain parity or superiority in the game-center and overload in the middle, infront of the goal.


Offensive Transition

Their most favoured option is to cover as much space, as quickly as possible. It can be with a pass or with driving the ball. This way they gain spatial advantage over the opponent quickly and put players in attacking positions to support the ball carrier. Supporting players get close to the opponent to release 1-2 own-team players in free spaces to gain advantage in numbers as well as space.

I hope you enjoyed my analysis and I'm eagerly looking forward to your invaluable feedback, suggestions and ideas. Do like, share and follow the page to show your love!

Football - Analysed!

(Video and Statistics Credits - WyScout.com)

De-constructing LA Galaxy's Dominating Performance Against Toronto FC!

LA Galaxy has been one of the top teams in the MLS this season, comfortably sitting in 2nd position in the Western Conference and also having star player, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as the 2nd highest top scorer in the league currently! Their game last night against Toronto FC ended with the scoreline of 2-0 in their favour and today I'll try to give you an idea of how LA Galaxy played in all 4 moments of the game and dominated proceedings.

Offensive Organisation

When playing out from the back, they try to organise on the pitch to always have numerical parity or superiority in proximity to the ball. Attracting opponents towards the game-centre in the middle corridor and opening up spaces on the outsides for gaining numerical parity and spatial advantage.

In the middle third, after a long ball, their main concern is to win the 2nd ball successfully. This helps them gain space near the opposing goal and they can start creation of chances.

In the final third, using Zlatan as target man and the outside corridors for superiority, crossing and finishing is their strongest suit.

Defensive Transition

As soon as the ball is lost, in a local perspective, the closest player pressurises the ball carrier in the direction away from goal. Glocally, closest team-mates give cover by isolating the player with the ball, giving him no option but to dribble or move away from the area of pressure. Once that is established, the team in a global perspective, gives defensive unity and try to get in shape quickly.

Defensive Organisation

First line of pressure, the striker, directs the ball carrier inside, where there more chance of winning the ball and quickly getting into an offensive phase.

The second line, midfielders, maintain a zonal system where each player is responsible for blocking a passing lane going forward.

The defensive midfielder stabilizes the midfield line by closing down runs of opponent striker/s coming down to receive the ball.

The defensive line maintains shape and organises to apply pressure, cover and balance at all times.

Offensive Transition

First and direct option for LA Galaxy is to go as close to opponent goal, as soon as possible. It can be with a dribble or a pass or a long ball, but the priority is to get the ball up the pitch.

Other players support the ball carrier to create situations of numerical superiority in side corridors.

With number and time in their control, they tend to make late but calculated runs behind the opponent defensive line for gaining opportunities to score.

I hope you enjoyed my analysis and I'm eagerly looking forward to your invaluable feedback, suggestions and ideas. Do like, share and follow the page to show your love!

Football - Analysed!


(Video and Statistics Credits - WyScout.com)

Brazil vs Argentina - Analysed!

Copa America 2019 semi-final, Brazil vs Argentina, might be the biggest game in men's football this summer and my idea for analysing this game would be to see how Brazil's moments of being 'out of possession' in the competition would come up against Argentina's offensive threat when they have possession.

Although Brazil have dominated possession by having an average of 68.8% of the ball and are yet to concede a goal, I've focused on the moment of them losing possession as they haven't faced that situation much during the competition. It would be interesting to see them deal with such circumstances and the way they react to conceding a goal in that manner.

Here we can clearly see how difficult it is for Brazil to be composed in the period of 'transition to winning possession'. A reckless mistake in the middle-third of the pitch could result in an overload from the opposition and Brazil might have to face an 'out of possession' situation in spatial and numerical inferiority.

Brazil also has a tendency of gaining numerical superiority in their offensive approach which makes the opposition sit back and try to contain constant waves of attackers. On the other hand, offensive unity and providing stability for the game-center is something that they lack and can be exploited.

Argentina hasn't been performing upto their reputation, which says a lot about them still reaching the semi-finals without full use of their potential. I've analysed their capability of being a threat during moments of being 'in possession' and not making optimum use of their caliber. They've had only 51.8% possession and still translated that to having 13 shots/game with 43% being on target! Here onwards, the possibilities are endless for them.

Argentina has been using the width and depth of their team to make supportive runs by players off the ball constantly. That gives them more leverage against opponents who have difficulty tracking players off the ball when they go out of their peripheral vision and gain commanding positions inbetween lines.

Argentina's 'transition to win possession' is direct towards goal and requires hardly any passes/dribbles going away from goal. They tend to attract as many opponents in the game-center to open up spaces closer to goal for a situation of numerical and spatial parity.

I hope you enjoyed my analysis on one of the biggest games of this summer and I'm eagerly looking forward to your invaluable feedback, suggestions and ideas. Do like, share and follow the page to show your love!

Football - Analysed!

(Video and Statistics Credits - WyScout.com)

Football - Analysed!

The first and most important thing about me you'd have already figured out is, my love for football!

I'm fortunate enough to make a career out of my passion. Not many people get that opportunity and I'm really grateful for it!

Started my career as a 'Professional Football Performance Analyst' in the 2018-19 season with Estoril Praia SAD in Portugal. 37 games, 55 goals, some amazing wins, few heartbreaking losses and one wonderful season later, I can assure you how important analysis in professional football is.

I'll be using my background in analysis to share my thoughts, ideas, insights, skills and viewpoints on interesting matches for you all to see the beautiful game from a critical and in-depth perspective.

Do show your love and support by liking, sharing & following the page. Also, looking forward to suggestions, ideas, possibilities & alternate views.

Football - Analysed!